Spirit pubs enjoy ‘strong' end to 2013

Spirit pub company has enjoyed a "strong" start to the year, with like-for-like net sales up 4.3% in the 20 weeks to 4 January 2014 in its managed pubs.

The news came in an interim management statement released today, which also revealed that like-for-like net sales over Christmas were up 7% at the company's managed pubs, which include the Taylor Walker brand.

Like-for-like food sales in the managed pubs were up 4.2% over the 20-week period, while like-for-like drink sales were up 3.9%.

In its leased pubs, spirit saw a 2.2% rise in net turnover over the 20 weeks, and a 1.2% increase in net income.

Mike Tye, chief executive, said: "We are pleased to report strong trading across the business for the first 20 weeks of our financial year with trading particularly buoyant over the Christmas period.

"Our focus remains on the execution of our well defined strategy which has seen our managed pubs consistently perform ahead of the market and enabled our leased estate to return to like-for-like growth during the period. We intend to build on this encouraging start by continuing to enhance the experience for all our guests, further strengthening the appeal of our brands and pubs and beginning to expand our estate."

Spirit has over 750 managed pubs and around 450 leased properties.